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u.s. Deportment 

of Tran~rtotron 

Federcll A)wllcrtlcn 

Admlnlslr<Jtlon 

NOV 23 2012 

Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Wer;tern-Paoif~ Region 

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P.O. Box 92007 

·Los Angeles, Califontla 90(109·2007 

(310) 725-7128 Telephone 

(310) 725·6816 Facsimile 

~;ERTIFJED MAIL~ RETURN RECEIPT ~QUESTED AND FACSIMILE 

Federal .\viation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washingto11, DC 20591 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk) AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building-Suite 2W1 000 

Re: In the Matter ofChemSystems, Inc.; 

Case No. 201lWP70018l 

ij]002/010 

~002 

Enclosed is a copy of a request for hearing dated November 6, 2012 and the original and on~ copy ofthe 

Complaint in the above-referenced proceeding. 

I reques1 tba.t the hearing in this matter be held in the Los Angeles, California area, and expect that the hearing 

will last one (1) day. 

Please address all communications for the Regional Counsel, Western-Pacific Region. to th(' undersigned, at: 

Office of the Regional Counsel, AWP-7. Federal Aviation Administration, Westem-Pacitic Regjvn, P.O. Box 

92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007, Telephone: (310) 725~ 7128, FAX: (310) 725~6816. 

Sincerely, 

Naomi 1'suda 

Regiona I Cot1nsel 

By: 

Enclosu1·es: Request for Hearing, Complaint> Certific:ate of Service 

NOTE TO RESPONDENT: SECTION 13.209 OF THE CP RUI,ES OF PRACTICE REQUIRE 

THAT A WRITTEN ANSWER TO THE CO:MPLAINT BE FILED NOT LATER THAN 30 DAYS 

AFTER SERVICE OF THIS COMPLAINT. AS ANAL TERN A TIVE TO FILING AN ANSWER~ 

A MOT.i.ON :MAY BE FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 13.208(0) OR SECTION t 3.218 (F) 

( 1-4) Ol·' THE RULES OF PRACTICE. 

cc: AWP-740 
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/•'7'0/Ti' ·:--~. 

q~,,....,~---. : · ...•. ._..J\lED 

S. ROBERT F.LING, PLLC. A'fTO~NEY AT LAW 

TELEPHONE (281) 391·200.'! 

FA.CSJMJL.H. (281) 727-0082 

Phy~icaJ Addt·ess: 

55 Ie Fifth Srrccr, Suite c 

Katy, Texas 7749:. 

Attn: He:aring Docker Clerk. AGC ·430 

Federal Aviation Commission 

Wilbur Wright Building, Room 2W1000 

BOO Independence Av~;, sw 

Washington, DC 20591 

Attn: Heal'in~ Docket Cie•·k, ACC -4:>0 

FedeJ·al Aviarlor~ Commission 

800 lndependenc~~ Ave. SW, Room 924A 

W2Shington, DC 20591 

Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box411 

K!i.!)', "feXII:\ 77492 

NoYember 6, 20 12 

C.MRR.R No.l.QJ:! 0470 0002 J475 ?.'i@ 

CMRRR No.1Ql~j)_470 01)02 34"75 2576 

({e: CMe No. 2()] 1 WP70()1&1; CllemSystem:t.·, /lu::. 

Denr Ht,:aring Dockt::t Clerk, 

Chet~1Sy~ten1s, Inc. has l'eceived the final Norice of Pro~sed Civil Penfllty, dated October 26, 

2012, fotwBTded by the Federal Aviation Adminism;Tion. Through this correspondence ChemSysrem);, 

foe. r·cquests a hearing pursmmr to paragrapll (e)(2)(ii) of Secrion IJ.I6 ot' the Federal Avial·jon 

Regulations relaled to Ike assel'tions srated in the October 26, 2012 lcucr horn the Federal Aviation 

Cotnrnission. ( 14 C.P.R. 13. 16). Please dil'eer all future communic<ttion to colmscl, S. Rober·i Fling of 

the J .. aw Firm, S. Robert Plln~, Attomey at Law, PLL.C. 

CC: 

Sincerely, 

Nancy l)tlel le, President ~-of (' 

ChemSht•. ns, Inc. 

____LSbj{_~r:~· Bl'uce Meikle, Vice - Pre.~il:lent of 

ChemSystems, Inc. 

/S/ S. 'R~~--

Roberl Fling, Attorney for ChcmSystem$, Inc. 

Cou1t1ley Adolph CMR.RR No. 7012 0470 0002 3475 2S83 Fedcn1l Avialion Administration 

Office ofRegion11J Counsel- Wesrc•·11 Pacific Rc~~:ion P.O. Box 92007 

Los Angeles. California 90009-2007 

Letter ll) Requesting HeRrin~ 

NOV ~ 97012 
' 'i 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL A YIATION ADMINfSTTRA TT.ON 

In the Matterof: 

ChemSystems, Inc., 

Re.spondent. 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

---·-----·- ) 

JUDGE NOT ASSIGNED 

FAA DOCKET: NOT ASSIGNED 

FAA CASE NO.: 2011WP700181 

COMPLAfN'T 

'fhe Complainant files its Complaint, pursuant to Rule 208 of the Rulc$1 of Practice 

(14 C.F.R. § 13.208). and states as follows: 

I. 

Respondent ChemSystems, Inc., was advised through a Final Notice of Proposed 

Civil Pe:nal,ty that the FAA proposed to assess a civil penalty in the amount of$154.000.00. 

:>n November 6, 2012, Respondent's Counsel, S. Robert Fling, submitted a written request 

for a hearing. 

II. 

I. On or about Augusl4, 201 11 Shannon Wooten, an employee ofChemSysiems. Inc. 

(""Respondent'"), offered a shipment to Federal Bxpress ("'FedEx"). for "express 

saver·' delivery from Houston. Texas to consignee Heritage Bomanite:;. Fresno. 

California (referred to hereinafter as "shipment") on air waybill nurn ber 

493062658064. 

~004/010 

~004 
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2. The shipment includco,d one fiberboard box containing four (4) one-gallon C•.)ntaillers 

of .. Chromasrain Ember." 

3. ''Clu-omastain Ember'· is a hazardous mnterial, in accordance with the Hazai·dous 

Materials Table in Title49 ofthe Code ofFederaJ Regulations (49 C.F.R.), Section 

172.1 0 I. lt is a coqosive liquid, acidic. inorganic. n.o.s. (Hydrochloric Acid). and 

has an Identification No, UN3264, Hazard Class &, Packing Group ni. 

4. Respondent offered the shipment for air transportation in commerce when it was not 

properly packaged and in condition for shipment as required or authorized hy 

applicable requirements in Subchapter C of Chapter I of 49 C.P.R., or an exemption 

or special permit approval, or registration issued under Subchapter C or Subcllaptc:!r 

A of Chapter L To wit: 

a. The four ( 4) containers possessed no positive means of closure and the 

fiberboard box was not designed., constructed, maintained, filled its contents 

S(.) limited, and closed, under conditions norrnally incident to transponarion to 

prevent a release of the ha~ardous material. 

b. TI1e necessary hazllrdoos material markings were not visible on the exterio(' 

of the shipment box. 

c. Hazardous material labels were not visible on the exterior or the shipment 

box. 

d. The shipping papers did uot include any classification or description ofrhe 

materials being shipped. 

~005/010 

@oos 

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5. Respondent of)·bred the shipment when emergel'lc)' response inform<ition, contom1i11g 

to 49 C'.F.R. part 172. subpart G. was not immed-iately available. few use at <~II times 

the hazardous material was present Respondent oftered the shipment when it did 

not provide an emergency response telephone l'lllmber for use in the event nf an 

~mergency ilwolving the hazardous materiEl!. 

6. As des(:nbed above_. Respondent was a hazrnat employer, and Shannon Wooten. was 

a hazmat employee. as those terms are defined in 49 C.F.R. section 171.8. :')hannon 

Wooten offered the shipment tor air transportation when s/he did not have recurrent 

general awareness/farnili~:~rization, function-specific, security awareness, sal'cty, etc. 

training in accordance with subpan H ofp::m 172 of49 C.F.R. 

7. On or about August 8, 201 I, Fedcx trartsported the shipment by ground from 

Ho1.1ston, Texas to its sorting facility in Oakland, California, where the shipment was 

found co be leaking. 

By reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances. Respondent violated the" 

following U.S. Department ofTransponation Ha.Zardous Material Regula1'ions (Titl1! 49. Parr 

171 et seq., Code of Federal Regulations): 

.\. 49 C.F.'R. §171.2(e), which states that no person may offli::r hazardous material for 

tra.nsponation unless the hazardous material is properly classed. descrihed. packaged, 

!~'larked. labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authori2cd by 

applicable requ.ir.emem:s of the Hazardous Materials Regulation~. or 

~m exemption, approval. or registration issued under the Hazardous Marerial~ ' 
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Reg1.1lations; 

B. 49 C.F.R. § 172.200(a). which states iha.t e~cept as otheiWise provided in this 

subpart each person who offers a hazardous material for ttan$portation shall 

desc1ibe the ha~ardous material on rhc shipping paper in the rnanner required by this 

subpart; 

·"" 49 C.P.R. § 172.300(a), which states that each person who offers a haz;ardou.<; 

material for transportation shall mark each package. freight container. and transport 

vehicle containing the hazardous material in the manner required by this sub~an: 

]). 49 C.F.R. §172.400(a), which states that except as specified h'l * 172.400a, each person 

who often; for transportation or transpon:s a hazardous material in any of the fo Bowing 

packages or contairunent devices, shalllabel1he package or containmenT device with 

labels specified for the material in the§ 172.101 table and in this subpart: (1) non-bulk 

package; 

[. 49 C.F.R. §172.600(c), which states that no person to whom this subpart applies may 

offer for transportation, accept for transportation, rranster. store or Othenv1~e handle 

during transportation a hazardous materi"l unless: (1) Emergency response 

information conforming to this subpart is immediately available for use at all times 

rhe hazardous material is present; and (2) Emergency response information, 

including the emergency response telephMc number. required by this subpart i$ 

immediately available to any person who, as a representative of a federal. state or 

local governmemt agency, responds to an incident involving a ha.zardou~ materiaL or 
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is condu~ting an investigation which involves a ha7.atd(JU::; material: 

F. 49 C.P.R. *172.604(a), which states thac a person who offers a hazardous material 

for transportation must provide a 24-hour emergency I"esponse telephone number 

including the area code or internatjonal .:tccess code- for use in the event of au1 

@008/010 

~008 

6 

emergency 1nvolving the hazardous materia) while oftering a hazardous material for 

transporLation. The telephone number must be monitored at all tjmes the ha"ardous 

material is in transportation, including storage incidental to transportation; 

cJ. 49 C.F.R. §172.702(a), which states that each hazmat empl6yee must be trained ill 

accordance with Th~ requirements prescribed in s·ubpan H of Part 172 of the 

Hazardous Materials Regulation: 

H. 49 C.P.R. § 173.24(b), which states that Elach package used for the shipment of 

hazardous materials under this s·ubchapte:r shall he de~igned. constTUctecl, 

maintained, tilled. its contents so limited, and closed, so that under conditions 

nom1ally incident to transponation- ( l) except as orhel"V-'ise provided in this 

subchapter there wil1 be no identifiable (Wi'thout the use ofinstrumcnts) rele:~se of 

hazardous materials to th.e enviroruncr~t; and 

49 C.F.R. § 173.27(d), which sta1es that Closures- Stoppers, corks or Clther s1.1ch 

friction-type closures must be held securdy, tightly and eftecLively in place hy 

pO$itive means . .Each screw-type closure on auy package must be sl!:cured ro )rev~ttt 

closure from loosening due to vibratjon or substantial change in temperature:. 
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III. 

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' I. In accordance with Section 5123 (a} ofTitle 49 ofthe United States Code 

(1'ransponatior1) [(49 U.S.C. Section 5123 (a)], Respondem is liable for a civil penalty 

·.)f not ~ess than $250.00 ($450.00 for traini1,g violations), nor greater than $50.000.00 (or 

'S 1 00,000.00 fC)r violations resulting in death, ~~~rio us illness, or severe injl.Ary to any person. 

· )f substantial destrucrion of property) for each violatiot~ of the li.S. Dcpal"tment of 

· fransportation Hazardous Materials Regulations. 

2. Under the facts and circumstanct:s of this case, a civil penalty of $154.0()0.00 

is appropriate, 

\VH:EREFORF.. ·the Complainant. respec-tfully requt.1sts that the Administn\tive Caw 

J ude;e enter an order that Respondellt be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of 

5>154.000.00. 

f,!espectfully submitted, /1 

r' ·'7 , .. •"' 

11 ·.,_.-·, ,· - -~z- /! ( _,.- \ "11v1fl·v; t,../ .__. I : 

( 'oun~y Adolph 

Attorney , 

(lffice of the Regional Counsel 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Western-RacHic Region 

DATED: ~oveznberz_s; 20 I 2 

~009/010 

~009 

7 
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

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J hereby certify that on this date l have sent by facsimile and placed in the United States 

1 nail, postage prepaid, certified mail, the executed original and one copy of the 

Complaint, addressed as follows: 

Federal Aviation Adr.oinistration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington~ DC -20591 

Attn: Hearing Docket Clerk, AGC-430 

Wilbur Wright Building-Suite 2WIOOO 

Facsimile (202) 493-5020 

1 further cenify that on this date I ha-..c placed in the United States mail, postage 

prepaid, cenified mail, a i'rUe copy of the Complaint~ addressed as follows: 

I>ated: November 23,2012 

I 

·' ., .. -·-;- .. 

Nancy Meikle, President 

ChemSysterns. Inc. 

I 01 01 Oenard Road 

Houston, TX 77041 

Robert Fling. Esq. 

S. Robert Fling, P:LLC. 

P.O. Box 411 

Katy~ TX 77492 

.' ·--< ,/ "7 1/;-';•z..<. /.... ,;., . _,,,; "-"""" 

}~~ocia' Garcia · ·";-t .,_ ~~ ---~~ · 

Paralegal Specialist 

Office of the Regional Counsel 

Federal Aviation AdministraLion 

Westem-Pacific Region 

~010/010 

Ill 010